Tony Bennett abruptly retires, leaving Virginia basketball without a succession plan
Tony Bennett is retiring with immediate effect after 15 seasons as the head coach of the Virginia men's basketball program. The Cavaliers revealed his intention to retire on Thursday, and he will make an official announcement in a press conference at the John Paul Jones Arena on October 18 at 11 am ET.
The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman initially reported Bennett's retirement a few minutes prior to the Cavaliers' official announcement. While Bennett battled health issues during his time with the Cavaliers, Goodman mentioned that his health played no factor in his decision to leave.
However, he indicated that the impact of NIL deals and the transfer portal on college basketball could have played a role in the decision, although the extent of this factor is unknown.
It's no secret that Bennett's decision has left the Cavaliers in a tough space. With less than three weeks to go for the start of the 2024-25 season, they need to find an able replacement to take over as the program's new head coach in time.
Tony Bennett enjoyed immense success with the Virginia Cavaliers
Tony Bennett led the Cavaliers to their most glorious moment in program history, leading them to their first and only national championship to date in 2019. He also led them to 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament during his 15-season tenure.
Under Bennett, the Cavaliers won the ACC regular-season title six times and the ACC Tournament twice. His record at the Cavaliers stands at 364-136, tallying a 72.8% winning percentage, while his overall record and winning percentage stands at 433-169 and 71.9%.
Besides bringing home silverware to the program, Bennett also earned several individual accolades. He was named the National Coach of the Year thrice (2007, 2015, 2018) and the Naismith College Coach of the Year twice (2007, 2018).
In their national championship-winning season, Bennett set a single-season program record for wins (35). During his tenure, 10 players were picked in the NBA draft, which includes prominent names like Brooklyn Nets small forward Joe Harris, Washington Wizards point guard Malcolm Brogdon and Atlanta Hawks power forward De'Andre Hunter.
Tony Bennett's eventual replacement will have massive shoes to fill as the Cavaliers' new head coach. With time running out, athletic director Carla Williams will hope to make a decision as soon as possible ahead of the upcoming season.